Civil activists request PM special interim report

A group of civil society members who met Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe over the weekend had requested that the select committee which was appointed to look into the Easter Sunday attacks should come up with a special interim report on Minister Rishad Bathiudeen.

Civil society member Saman Ratnapriya told Daily Mirror that they have also told the Prime Minister that the select committee should not delay the reports. Prime Minister had assured that the interim reports would be submitted in a few weeks time.

Mr. Wickremesinghe had also assured that the Speaker had endorsed the proposal that the select committee should be opened to the media. He said this in response to the request that have been made by the civil society members to this effect.

They have also informed the Prime Minister that the select committee should properly determine as to who is responsible for the failure to take preventive action to curb the Easter Sunday attacks. They have actually told the Prime Minister that those who were responsible should be identified in both political and official level. Mr. Wickremesinghe had assured them that it will be fully transparent.

Regarding the Sharia University in Batticaloa, the Prime Minister had informed the civil group leaders that the government had already decided to put this university under the University Grants Commission.

Civil group leaders which included Mr. Ratnapriya, Ven. Dhambara Amila Thera, Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne, Dr. Paikyasothi Sarawanamuttu, Prof. Chandraguptha Thenuwara, Prof. H. W. Cyril, Dr. Jehan Perera and Prime Minister’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake participated in the discussion which was held on Saturday.